Reading for Battle
Battle Readings is a regularly updated compilation of articles, essays, and opinion pieces relevant to the themes of the Battle of Ideas.
Choose a theme from the listing on the left to narrow your search, or view all readings.
Lifestyle & Society
Choirs are magical - but should they be a social tool, too?
There's a risk that in using choirs for everything from helping fragmented communities to stress relief, we drag them down to the level of the mundane
Niall Crowley, Independent Voices, 10 October 2012
There's a risk that in using choirs for everything from helping fragmented communities to stress relief, we drag them down to the level of the mundane
Niall Crowley, Independent Voices, 10 October 2012
Who Destroyed the Economy? The Case Against the Baby Boomers
Retirees and near-retirees are leaving behind a devastated economy for their children ... but are we doing anything to fix it? Here, two generations debate who's really to blame for the wreckage.
Jim Tankersley, The Atlantic, 5 October 2012
Retirees and near-retirees are leaving behind a devastated economy for their children ... but are we doing anything to fix it? Here, two generations debate who's really to blame for the wreckage.
Jim Tankersley, The Atlantic, 5 October 2012
Why the 'couples where women do more housework stay together' study isn't shocking
The recent Norwegian study ‘Equality in the Home’ found higher divorce rates among couples who shared housework than among those where most of the tasks were carried out by the woman. What surprises me is that so many commentators were surprised by this.
Frank Furedi, Independent Voices, 1 October 2012
The recent Norwegian study ‘Equality in the Home’ found higher divorce rates among couples who shared housework than among those where most of the tasks were carried out by the woman. What surprises me is that so many commentators were surprised by this.
Frank Furedi, Independent Voices, 1 October 2012
Riot-hit communities need more than this lazy policy
Too often government tries to "fix" communities whose problems can only truly be solved from within
Dave Clements, Independent Voices, 30 September 2012
Too often government tries to "fix" communities whose problems can only truly be solved from within
Dave Clements, Independent Voices, 30 September 2012
My Take: 'I'm spiritual but not religious' is a cop-out
The increasingly common refrain that "I'm spiritual, but not religious," represents some of the most retrogressive aspects of contemporary society. The spiritual but not religious "movement" - an inappropriate term as that would suggest some collective, organizational aspect - highlights the implosion of belief that has struck at the heart of Western society.
Alan Miller, CNN, 29 September 2012
The increasingly common refrain that "I'm spiritual, but not religious," represents some of the most retrogressive aspects of contemporary society. The spiritual but not religious "movement" - an inappropriate term as that would suggest some collective, organizational aspect - highlights the implosion of belief that has struck at the heart of Western society.
Alan Miller, CNN, 29 September 2012
Capturing the moment the royals became slebs
Those grainy pics of a naked Kate Middleton tell a striking story about the celebrification of the Windsors.
Tim Black, spiked, 20 September 2012
Those grainy pics of a naked Kate Middleton tell a striking story about the celebrification of the Windsors.
Tim Black, spiked, 20 September 2012
Racism in football still a significant problem, says report
Racism remains a "significant problem" in British football despite improvements in recent years, according to a House of Commons committee report.
BBC News, 19 September 2012
Racism remains a "significant problem" in British football despite improvements in recent years, according to a House of Commons committee report.
BBC News, 19 September 2012
Should you really dress little girls in leopard-skin bikinis, Liz?
Actress accused of sexualising youngsters with bikini range
Chloe Thomas, Daily Mail, 16 September 2012
Actress accused of sexualising youngsters with bikini range
Chloe Thomas, Daily Mail, 16 September 2012
Bradley’s winnings
The big money to be made in finance now is from turning in your own firm
Economist, 15 September 2012
The big money to be made in finance now is from turning in your own firm
Economist, 15 September 2012
Foreign Policy After Blair
"I travel far to participate in the BOI; it’s a unique festival of free speech and debate that consistently combines energy, fearlessness and provocation with thoughtful, informed consideration of contemporary politics and culture."
Wendy Kaminer, US-based writer on law, liberty, feminism, religion, and popular culture
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